The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-04-28

s6 0tt84Nt BH>% ~ F"~""'t~ " y ~
house With pretty sir Of control, which
Mx Wells. the actual housskceper, never
resented or contrAaicsed. Her beauty vas
Of tbs eIquisi.ely delicate type peculiar to
American girls Of the reHped. educated
clsss the sristoerscy Of this democratic
land. Her tair Of golden brosn covered
her tall. slender agure bike veil 10 fine
4 ,hrsAds Of yietsss SD,f, itrr yrs we're .
deep hazel. shaded by long golden brown
IssLes. and her features we're cut ~ clear
~ and regularly Is 6ne cameo. Hands
ssd feet were smalI and slender. no, thin,
for her whole figure Vas gracefully round
cd. Bot her greatest perfection was .
skin ~ soft and fair and spotless as that OF
miniature painting.
When the good minister christened ber
- gave ~ the far non musical nsne Of
Mary Jane. and Mary Jane TrAsk was GER
sAiniy hsr proper scenousu. Bu she was
May from baby; May 10 school May at
home, aud when, at eighteen, she came
home ''for good with honors Of ibe sem
mary embodied 10 her diploma. there we're
probably not six persons 10 Windhaven
who knew her name was actually Mary
Jane. e
She reigned 10 the village by right OF
her lovely face, her kind heart. her city
accomplishments and her fathers position.
for old DIR. Trask was one OF the grsndees
Of the place. though his worldly means
would certainly sound very small il pamed
In Wall street.
Nobody wondered when Mr.. Pendleton,
the great city artist. came to Windbaven
for the summer that be requested the doe
tor TO allow him to take Miss Mays por-
trait 10 introduce 10 scene be was paint
ing Of spring.
| In his hands the we'll worn subject be- |
came marvel Of fresh creations, and when
he bad made his many sketches from
nature he set ur great easel and canvas,
by Mays permission, in a large, empty !
room at the doctors, and began his paint
ings in good earnest He bad brought let.
ters to DIR. Trask from some old city |
friends, and in Windhsyen the prophecies
were not iron fences against friendly inter.
course.
Young girls were supposed to be suill-
ciently guarded from insult or miscon
struction by their own irnate purity and
modesty, and when May stood for her pic
ture 10 the great empty room nobody's
hands were raised in horror because no
matron sat beside her Her dress for
these occasions was Of thin, floating mus
lin. cut to show her round shoulders and
arms, aud her waving. golden hair fell
unbound around her. Upon her dress and
in her hair we're scattered delicate spring
blossoms. and the small hands carried long
sprays Of tender green leaves.
Bnt once dressed and IN position, Mark
Pendleton desired his fair model TO forget ],
that she was sitting for a picture, and ex-
erted every charm Of his wonderful powers
OF conversation for that purpose And
May listened and answered modestly and
intelligently, till she would grow interested
in her subjects, when her large eyes would
dilate with feeling, her cheeks flush to
delicate rose tints and her face intensity :
its own beauty till the artis: sighed to
think how poorly paint and pencil could {
reproduce the exquisite face he copied.
He was somewhat older than May, this
great artist. who had seen European cities I
and oil the natural scenery of note in his !
own land. who had read and thought so |
much. and whose pictures commanded I
such high prices, but his heart was fresh
and youthful as boys, and his love of /
beauty was an undying source OF delight :
to him.
He had tall figure and fne face, with +
large. dark, soul-lit eyes, aud May thought
him Is handsome as be thought her, which /
Is saying q great deal. She felt proud il '
she conld contribute anything to bis great d
picture, and wonld flush with pleasure 4
when he asked her TO sing as he worked /
ito inspire his hand" delightiog to pour
forth her clear, sweet soprano voice in bis Il
fsyorite songs, and see his face kinde to 8
enthusiasm ct the sounds.
SO they gave heart for heart in the long .
summer days, often forgetting even the \
picture and each others faces. as they in u
srchapged the deeper soul talk that draws S
true love 10 the strongest bonds The o
worldly wise man, the pet OF the great city, s
the artist whose name was we'll known v
throughout the land, gave his heart to the
gentle, sweet girl. who thought heaven 81
open to her as she knew the gift was hers. il
Dr. Trask gave his consent, sighIng a ~
little at the prospect Of losing his child, d
and somewhat consoled by the princely
gii, OF the large painting Of Spring. where
Nay, with flower laden, out stretched v
hands. seemed advancing from the depth
OF forest glade to meet him a
The Wedding day was fxed for October
aud Mark Pendleton returned TO Philadel- n
phis TO prepare home for his bride. IL a
vas August when be left Windhsven, and
May bad great piles OF sewing TO sccom :,
plish. but her lovers parting words we're: r,
'Dcut work too hard my darling ! g,
want my little wiie's face ms fair as spring
itself y hen come TO claim her" "
B.fore be had been gone two weeks d
windbayen was thrown into terror stricken "
suffering BY the breaking ont Of a conis- ia
gious fever. that spread with lightning I
rspiiity through the entire village. II N
was so violent, 40 fatal, that everyone q,
spared Aciusl sickness was busy 10 the W
ssre OF relative or friend.
May forgot her hne stitching and ruf- b
aing. her coming wedding, and eyep her I